Ben 'Tuffy' Lee Plus Bonus EZB

This is a very unique episode recorded in a shipping container at Golden Plains music festival with Ben 'Tuffy' Lee.

Plus a bonus poem from Emilie Zoey Baker recorded at Fairfield Boathouse.

We start the conversation by talking about Tuffy's band The Dirty Bloods and what lead him to getting to the place where he would start his own band in his 40's.

Many thanks to Ela Fornalska for being our MTAW Muse of the Week! Ela supplied the prompt 'Firsts', for which I wrote this poem.

FIRSTS.

My first kiss was at midnight on a boat shed deck on a Mornington Beach. She made me listen to Echo and the Bunnymen's 'Killing Moon' on her Walkman. The headphones dropped from my head as she kissed me into oblivion.

My first taste of marijuana was from a bucket bong in a rock and roll St Kilda share house. A baptism of THC fire.

My first punch I ever received was at 15 years old playing football for Beleura against Dromana. I tried to wrestle him away from a teammate who he was also punching and then he turned around and punched me directly in the face. It's true you really do see stars.

My first sex was in a bedroom in Seaford while her mother baked cookies in the kitchen. To this day the smell of freshly baked cookies produces a Pavlovian tingle in my loins.

My first time in a plane was flying to Mexico on a one way ticket with my girlfriend who I would marry three years later. We broke up 18 months later and divorced. She held my hand tightly as the plane took off.

My first breakup was in the Melbourne Botanical Gardens on a clear bright sunny day. Which lead to the second and last time I was punched as she pummelled my chest with her fists while tears streamed down her face.

My first record I ever owned was the Beach Boys Greatest Hits, a birthday present from my parents.

My first record I ever bought with my own money was Pat Benatar live. Because I was in love with her and certain we would marry one day. Love is a battlefield.

My first car was a 1965 Bottle Green Hillman Minx. I drove it all the way home from the sellers house with the hand brake still on and was terrified that I had ruined it. I hadn't. I also used to keep a bunch of plastic flowers spread across the dash board because I wanted to be Morrissey.

My first has never been my first because everything has happened before and will happen again.

For Whelan and Stealin' Tuffy reads some of the lyrics of And the Ass Said to the Angel: "Wanna' Play Kick to Kick?" and

Fosters Car Boogie from TISM.

I read a poem by Matt Cook called James Joyce, that I first heard on a CD called The United States of Poetry created by the amazing Bob Holman. You can see the film clip for James Joyce right here.

Lastly we hear from the wonderful Emilie Zoey Baker with a bonus poem recorded by the river at Fairfield Boat House.

Emilie's poem is inspired by the song Alphabet Aerobics by Blackalicious, especially Daniel Radcliffe's mindblowing cover of it on Jimmy Fallon.

Thank you as always to our generous supporters Luxe Country and Castaway Studios.

(Sean M) Whelan, out.